Source : Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing

Windows 95
     
         (Win95) {Microsoft}'s successor to their
        {Windows 3.11} {operating system} for {IBM PC}s.  It was known
        as "Chicago" during development.  Its release was originally
        scheduled for late 1994 but eventually happened on 11 Jul
        1995, followed by Service Release 1 on 1995-12-31 and OSR2
        (OEM Service Release 2) on 1996-08-24.
     
        In contrast to earlier versions, Windows 95 is a complete
        operating system rather than a {graphical user interface}
        running on top of {MS-DOS}.
     
        It provides {32-bit application} support, {pre-emptive
        multitasking}, threading and built-in networking ({TCP/IP},
        {IPX}, {SLIP}, {PPP}, and {Windows Sockets}).  It includes
        {MS-DOS} 7.0, but takes over completely after booting.  The
        {graphical user interface}, while similar to previous Windows
        versions, is significantly improved.
     
        Windows 95 has also been described as "32-bit extensions and a
        graphical shell for a 16-bit patch to an 8-bit operating
        system originally coded for a 4-bit microprocessor, written by
        a 2-bit company that can't stand 1-bit of competition".
     
        The successor to Windows 95 was {Windows 98}.
     
        (1998-07-19)